Snap fastener



Sept.7 3, 1935.

F. THIELE SNAP FASTENER Filed Sept. 4, 1934 Patented Sept. 3, 1935 UNITED Vsrfrtzs PATENT OFFICE SNAP FASTENER 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a snap fastener, and has for an object to provide an improved snap fastener of the type which, when once fastened, is intended to remain permanently fastened; as, for instance, when used in tufting mattresses, cushions, and the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide a snap fastener which may be quickly and easily assembled in use and, when once assembled, remains permanently assembled.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a snap fastener in which metal parts are manufactured economically and inexpensively by a simple stamping operation out of pressed metal and in which a fabric part is assembled with one of the metal parts by pressing the metal part around the fabric part.

Still a further object of this invention is'to provide a snap fastener including a button and a male member adapted to be assembled to the button, the male member having a flexible fabric or string member secured thereto.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a tufting device f or mattresses which includes a snap fastener member formed at each end of a exible fabric member of suitable size for tufting operation. V

With the foregoing and other objects in view, as will hereinafter become apparent, this inven.

Ation comprises constructions, combinations and arrangements -of parts hereinafter set forth, disclosed and shown on the accompanying drawing. In this drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a mattress embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of one of the fasteners, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

There is shown at I0 the snap fastener of this invention embodied as a tufting device in the mattress II. The snap fastener I0 includes a flexible fabric -or string member I2, to each end of which the fastening means may be attached, the fastening means at each end being identical.

A male member I4 'is secured to an end of the flexible fabric I2 by having the end of the exible fabric l2 inserted in the hollow tubular portion thereof and then having the edge of the tubular portion I4 crimped or pressed thereabout as at I5 to securely fasten the flexible fabric I2 to the male member I4. At the other end the male member I4 is formed with a reduced neck I6 to which is attached at its base Il a cone-shaped head I8. This male member I4 may be constructed of an integral solid piece of metal in the same manner as toothpaste tubes are constructed, that is, a cylindrical block of metal of the proper size is pressed until a hollow tube is formed partly therein at one end, then at the other end it is stamped to cause the metal to flow into the reduced neck I6 to which is attached the coneshaped head I8. The'flexible fabric I2 is then inserted in the hollow end thereof and the edge I5 is crimped or pressed thereabout. 10

As shown in Fig. l, a similar or identical male member I4 is secured to each end of the fabric member I2. A tufting button 20 is provided to cooperate with each male member I4, tufting button 20 being formed, as will be clear from Fig. 3, 15 of two metal portions 2I and 22 pressed together along their meeting edges 23.

In the center of the side 22 of the button 28, a collar 24 is pressed inwardly, the collar 24 terminating in a circular edge 25 of a diameter 20 equal to a circle slightly larger than the maximum diameter of the head I8.

Surrounding the base of the collar 24 a plurality o`f elongated ngers or prongs 26 are struck outwardly on three sides 2l but are attached to 25 the metal 22 along the fourth side 28. The iingers 26 are curved backwardly and their free ends 29 overlap the circular edge 25 of the collar 24. As shown, there are four fingers 26 formed in the metal portion 22 of the button 20 and any convenient number may be formed as desired, two, three or more.

A circle tangent to the free ends 280i the ngers 26 and their overlapped position is of smaller diameter than the circle about the edge of the .5 base I] of the cone-shaped head I8. Accordingly, in order to assemble the button 22 on the male member I4 to which the exible fabric I2 has already been attached, it is only necessary that the cone-shaped head I8 be inserted into the button 20 through the circular edge 25 of the collar 24. As the cone-head I8 is being inserted, its sides will press against the under side of the free end 29 of the fingers 26 until the edge of the base Il has passed therebeyond. As soon as this happens, the free ends 29 will spring back into their overlapped position against thecircular edge 25 of the collar 24, then the base H will be on top instead of beneath the free ends 29 and the free ends 29 upon their lingers 26 will thereby secure a hold to male member I4 against being withdrawn through the circular edge 25, it being observed that the fingers 26 and the sides of the base I1 form a very large obtuse angle to each other, thereby preventing any pos- M sibility of the male member I I being withdrawn from the button 20 unless the nietals, one or the other, were to shear through. i

When using this invention in tufting mattresses, cushions, or the like, the flexible fabric I2 or string is formed with the male member il at each end thereof. The button 20 isfattached to one male member I4 and then the other male member is drawn through the mattress Il, bringing the rst button 20 into contact with one side of the mattress. Then the other side of the mattress is compressed by a suitable tool allowing the other male member I4 to extend a suiilcient distance therethrough for the other button 20 to be pressed thereon and snapped into position, it being observed that the neck I6 is of suillcient length to allow the base i1 to extend a sufficient distance beyond the circular edge 215 of the collar 24 in the assembling operation.

The novel features and the operation of this device will be apparent from the foregoing description. While the device has been shown and the structure described in detail, it is obvious that this should not be considered limited to exact form disclosed and that changes may be made therein Within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

A tufting device for mattresses, cushions and the like, comprising a exible fabric member, a male member having one end hollow for receiving one end of the exible fabric member, said hollow end being crimped about said fabric member to securely fasten same together, the opposite end of said male member having a reduced neck terminating in an enlarged cone head, a tufting button adapted to be permanently attached to said male member, said button having an annular dished bottom portion provided with an apertured collar centrally thereof, a plurality of spaced prongs radially of the collar and intermediate the circumference of the button and the collar struck integrally out of said bottom, said prongs being folded back with their free ends overlapping the edge of said collar, whereby the cone head of the male member may extend through the apertured collar beyond the free ends of the prongs and be entrapped by said free ends springing into position below the base of the cone head.

FRANK THIELE. 

